The Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service promotes Digital Radio with DAB+ technology

• This standard allows a more efficient use of the spectrum, optimizes the coding of the audio signal making it more robust against interference and allows the incorporation of the Automatic Security Alert System, a new instrument to communicate public alerts in emergency situations
• The regulatory project states that state-wide digital radio can only broadcast with DAB+ technology. In the case of regional and local digital radios, each CCAA will decide the date on which, in a mandatory and synchronized manner, the broadcasts must be made exclusively with DAB+ technology.

Madrid, 2 October 2025.- The Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures has published today, in order to submit it to a public audience, the text of the project of royal decree that promotes digital terrestrial radio in Spain with DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting Plus) technology.

This initiative represents a key step towards the modernization of the Spanish radio sector. DAB+ technology allows a more efficient use of the radio spectrum and optimizes the encoding of the audio signal, making it more robust against interference. The most modern receivers already have this technology incorporated and European regulations require that all new vehicles marketed in the European Union include receivers compatible with DAB+.

DAB+ technology enables advanced audio formats (such as multichannel sound) and will allow the incorporation of features such as the Automatic Security Alert system (ASA). This system is adjusted to the emergency area and allows the emission of spoken messages with speakers that provide the necessary information and indications. It also allows additional information to be provided in the form of text and images on the radio receivers.

Evolution of the National Broadcasting Technical Plan
For state-wide broadcasts, the text of the regulatory project states that the evolution to this technology is mandatory and synchronized. RTVE is attributed a block of frequencies exclusively that will allow it to increase its ability to offer content. It will also have greater coverage obligations and must reach 85% of the population in 24 months. Private licensees will be integrated into another block, where current coverage obligations will be maintained.

This reorganization does not generate free channels, so it is not necessary to call new radio licensing contests. Likewise, this plan does not affect analog broadcasts, so the situation will be maintained in both Medium Wave (OM) and Modulated Frequency (FM).

For the regional and local channels, an evolution to DAB+ is proposed in two phases. In the first phase, any broadcaster can evolve to DAB+ at any time and independently, as long as it does not affect the other operators or the channel planning. In a second phase, the CCAA will decide on the date on which, in a mandatory and synchronized manner, broadcasts from the regional and local networks of its community will be made exclusively with DAB+ technology.

The hearing will be open until November 4, 2025.